My buddy has a vacation home on the river in MD.
He tells me that he has heard that there is a Benchseat Hornet sitting in long term storage in MD.
The boat was once part of an estate .
The current owner/s seem to have little interest in actually using this boat.

Many of you forum guys have tracked all of the known Benchseat Hornets.
Do you know this boat ~~~or anything about it ?

Could it be the one that Scot P. posted (and then removed) pictures of?

Sweet little 16

02-20-2011, 08:48 PM

Could it be the one that Scot P. posted (and then removed) pictures of?

no that boat was not a bench seat hornet

mrfixxall

02-20-2011, 09:37 PM

Maybe its the one that mattyboy already bought?

Rob M

02-20-2011, 10:29 PM

I do recall a Benchseat Hornet from Maryland that was posted - very briefly - on a boating website back in 2002? or so. The posting disappeared quickly and mysteriously, and the boat was discussed on this site. As I recall, it was an estate boat. It was White with a maroon stripe and maroon interior, in mostly original state. I recall it was I/O, and not a v-drive.

mrfixxall

02-20-2011, 10:54 PM

I do recall a Benchseat Hornet from Maryland that was posted - very briefly - on a boating website back in 2002? or so. The posting disappeared quickly and mysteriously, and the boat was discussed on this site. As I recall, it was an estate boat. It was White with a maroon stripe and maroon interior, in mostly original state. I recall it was I/O, and not a v-drive.

post 26 & 28

http://www.donzi.net/forums/showthread.php?t=62231&page=2

silverghost

02-20-2011, 10:54 PM

I do recall a Benchseat Hornet from Maryland that was posted - very briefly - on a boating website back in 2002? or so. The posting disappeared quickly and mysteriously, and the boat was discussed on this site. As I recall, it was an estate boat. It was White with a maroon stripe and maroon interior, in mostly original state. I recall it was I/O, and not a v-drive.

ROB & others~~~
This sure seems to be the Hornet that my buddy was in fact talking about !

Could it still be in hidden somewhere in Maryland ?

I would like an I/O powered Benchseat Hornet~~~

My Dad owned an inboard V-Drive boat many years ago.
It was NOT a Donzi ~~~

V-Drives just do not interest me anymore.
The sluggish low speed handling, & difficult docking & backing-up of a V-Drive in a tight marina with swift tide current, along with it's lower top speed are my main objections to owning another V-Drive boat.

I now own a big 24 foot American Skier Eagle inboard skiboat with a Big Block Chevy FWC HP 500.
Possibly the biggest skiboat ever built. Only 9-10 ever produced !
I know the limits of a single inboard drive all too well !

That's why I want an I/O drive ~~~

The idea of owning an I/O Benchseat Hornet really severly limits my search down to only a few well-known boats~~~

Sadly these known I/O Benchseat Hornets may never be For Sale by their current owners in my lifetime !

This is why I have been working on my "Benchseat 18 Project "
the Yellow-Jacket !
(Photos are Posted On this Site )

I do recall a Benchseat Hornet from Maryland that was posted - very briefly - on a boating website back in 2002? or so. The posting disappeared quickly and mysteriously, and the boat was discussed on this site. As I recall, it was an estate boat. It was White with a maroon stripe and maroon interior, in mostly original state. I recall it was I/O, and not a v-drive.

yes white and maroon purchased from a widow/estate in MD it was sold the new owner has west coast east coast ties boat last whereabouts in lake george
mopar/ vdrive boat from factory.

there's one for sale here, one on ebay too

Sweet little 16

02-21-2011, 02:25 PM

an I/O benchseat is a rare one inside a group of rare ones.
the Hornet was the high price tag high HP platform and back in that era the I/O were not strong enough to take the 300 400 500 hp options so they were V drives. In 68 the 250 came around and the 225 235 270 HP HM motors came around mated to the 250 volvo then in 69 the 290 hp HM but by that time the bench seat gave way to the 2+3 Hornet

silverghost

02-21-2011, 02:40 PM

It appears that I am indeed looking for that "needle in a haystack" with my search for an I/O Benchseat Hornet or a Donzi/ Berkeley Water-jet powered X 18 / or 18!

I would not buy a V-Drive Benchseat Hornet and ever try to convert it to I/O drive today.
This would spoil a good original boat !
To me these boats are far too historically interesting & rare to mess-around with their original drive configurations !
Unless~~~the Hornet was a completely trashed burn-pile boat ! :shocking:

My search continues for an I/O Benchseat Hornet~~~
OR~~~
A Donzi Berkeley water-jet drive X-18 or 18 like my uncle used to own in the mid 1970s !
I loved OUR family's old X-18 Donzi Berkeley/Olds 455 Water-jet powered speedboat !
It was literally a BLAST to drive !
I still miss it after all these many years !

I would buy both the above type Donzi boats in a heart-beat today !

Scott Pearson

02-24-2011, 03:24 PM

Pictures of the MD Boat.

silverghost

02-24-2011, 04:53 PM

Thank's for the photos of the MD Hornet Scott !

My Buddy & I had just hoped that it was indeed an I/O drive & still for sale !

After your Fantastic & well documented World Class Restoration of "the Sting"~~~~

I was a bit shocked to see you put your project the "Ultimate" Hornet on the For Sale Martket !

I sure hope you found another great & worthy restoration project for YOURSELF ! ?

The mystery MD Benchseat Hornet project that I first asked about on this thread was located several weeks ago and is now listed in the Donzi forum For Sale section, complete with photos, by it's longtime owner Mario.
Check-it-Out ~~~

Just Say N20

04-05-2011, 07:24 AM

The mystery MD Benchseat Hornet project that I first asked about on this thread was located several weeks ago and is now listed in the Donzi forum For Sale section, complete with photos, by it's longtime owner Mario.
Check-it-Out ~~~